ALL YOU NEED IS LOVE ...

College

2010-11-23T11:32:00.000-08:00

exam season here!! ooooh i feel so weak.. and definitely not filled with any knowledge.. :)

MERCY

2010-11-21T14:15:00.000-08:00

My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness. 2 Corinthians 12:9

Moje milost ti stačí. Má moc se plně projeví uprostřed slabosti. 2.Korintským 12:9

Lately, I´ve been.. silent. I wanted things my way, which was wrong, I know. And I didn´t talk to God. I realized I need His mercy! On my way home (by train) I went through my Bible and every verse I caught sight of talked about mercy. It was God´s wonderful way of giving me answer that He is willing to forgive me...
One day I´m crying in the prayer room, thinking something like: Jesus, you don´t hear me... you don´t care... you didn´t give me any answer, I need answers from You, now! And the other day, I am totally calm. Sure. God is miraculous!! God is never going to give up on us! His power REALLY is made perfect in my weakness.. I´m not as strong as I thought..
I wish everybody could feel His mercy like I do now.. my dearest closest friend, my family, my friends.. I wish they understood the beauty of this short verse..
LORD, thank You for your infinite patience, thank You for not giving up on me even though I fall so many times. Jesus, let me feel your presence and Your gifts You have for me. Please, open my heart for Your peace!

LEARNING TO FALL

2010-09-30T09:37:00.000-07:00

Learning To Fall is a song by This Beautiful Republic. Its lyrics is.. just breathtaking!! It´s kind of "my prayer" in this time of repentance. This is exactly what I´ve been saying to God lately.

I've heard it said a million times,
That I should hold on tight to Jesus.
But I took this road so far from home,
And distance came between us.

When I walked away,
I knew one day,
I'd need Your grace.

So now you'll find me on my knees, surrendering,
Cause I know that I'm really not so strong.
And now, I'm done fighting for control,
Oh, you can have this life that I've been holding for so long.
I'm learning to fall.
Let my world crumble.

You ran so fast to rescue me,
While I was barely breathing.
You picked me up, You touched my face,
And I began to see more clearly.

Though I'm such a disgrace,
You still forgave.
Your love remains.

So now you'll find me on my knees, surrendering,
Cause I know that I'm really not so strong.
And now, I'm done fighting for control,
Oh, you can have this life that I've been holding for so long.
I'm learning to fall.
Let my world crumble.

Take me as an offering.
I surrender everything.
No more living without You.

Mladej VOLANT

2010-09-30T08:27:00.000-07:00

I will start by a short prayer today.
Dear Lord, thank You for everything You do in our lives. Thank You for showing us where You want us to serve. Thank You for giving us everything we need for the service - strength to solve problems, energy, wisdom.. I pray for our team, that we´d be united in You, Jesus, and that we´ll not be an obstacle for Your work in other people´s lives.Amen.

VOLANT is a club for high school and college students. Since there are children in our church in a "critical" age of 11-15, we´ve started a new service - Mladej VOLANT (meaning YoungVOLANT).
Last weekend we spent on the countryside with a small group of these kids. And we had so much fun! :) We played games, sports, a special game in the woods, there was a mud fight (no children involved, just two "adults" :D). We watched the first episode of EXIT 316: Mise to introduce what the program in the near future would look like. At night, girls went on a very dangerous mission :) We went downstairs and drew on boys´ faces and hands with colored markers and made pictures! :D xD
Anyway, I hope more kids will come tomorrow to the first meeting :) I believe God will do great things!! :)

Captivating

2010-09-08T02:34:00.000-07:00

This is just a short recommendation of the book, not a review because I don´t have the book at home right now.. This book is amazing, with great opinions and facts about our relationship with God. It´s mostly written for women but I´d definitely recommend it to boys/men too!! It´s written by John & Stasi Eldredge, by a couple, for both women and men. At least a guy could get to know his girlfriend´s ways of thinking better :)

Summer Photos

2010-09-05T14:31:00.000-07:00

Waiting for a sunrise.. between 4 and 5 am!

Ivo and I

Hanging out at a wine cellar with Vita & Lena :)

Cupcakes!! Yay!

E-camp - our english class

Campfest :D

Campfest - I am the king of the world!!!!!!

Campfest - adventurous trip (water up to our hips!! refreshing!)

Campfest - main program last evening

Whispering whistle & captivating colors!! - summer 2010

2010-09-05T11:55:00.000-07:00

Wow I didn´t write anything about summer.. yet. :) It´s been incredible, I have to say. Let´s start where my last post ended..
Exam season - I had to retake the test from the EU but my summer vacation started June 15, after I passed! I had plenty of time to get ready for our VOLANT english camp 2010 with the theme "Redeem" :) This year´s e-camp was a bit different for me.. Being in a romantic relationship is great and serving together is great but first, it was really hard for me to be focused on serving/talking to other people/spending time not only with the person I wished to spend time with.. I cried and cried and God blessed the rest of the camp and gave me whatever I needed to enjoy it! :) however, for the first time ever, I said: I love it here but I´m glad when it´s over..

A couple of verses I wrote into my journal during summer:

"Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself." - Matthew 22:37-39

"And this is love: that we walk in obedience to his commands. As you have heard from the beginning, his command is that you walk in love." - 2 John 1:6

"So I say, live by the Spirit and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature." - Galatians 5:16

"Don´t use fould or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them." - Ephesians 4:29

"Get rid of bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior. Instead, be kind to each other, tender hearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you." - Ephesians 4:31-32

"Instead, clothe yourself with the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ and don´t let yourself think about ways to indulge your evil desires." - Romans 13:14

At VOLANT, we had different programs every Saturday, and also Bible Study (the Gospel of John) every Friday :) This summer was blessed also because Leňa (my really good friend and amazing girl) made it to Sumperk almost every weekend! yay! we had so much fun together, hanging out with people at VOLANT, with Ivo and Vita or just the two of us in my room, listening and singing crazy songs we used to listen to when we were younger :D
In August, we went to Slovakia to Campfest with bunch of friends.. it was awesome time! Seminars, worship songs, czech band Runaway My Son, sleeping in the tent, adventurous trip... And being there with people I love was a beautiful gift from God!
This leads me to... relationship :) I am soo thankful God gives us this opportunity to be in relationship. We get to know each other, we can grow in faith.. we have to ask God for mercy and blessings. We have to trust Him it´s His will. Even though we are sinful people, our God is forgiving God, loving God.. Praying both alone and together is a wonderful experience for me. It´s nice to know God is here for me and is willing to listen, well it´s worse with me and the "walls" I built in my head/heart. I know only God can help me with them. And He is helping me!
Also, I had the chance to meet a group of American people. I was a hostes at the Folklore Festival in Sumperk for the dancing group from Tennessee :) First, I was scared and shy and nervous but here again, God proved that He is faithful and He supported me and filled me with energy for the whole week! :) He also surrounded me by my friends who supported me during that week of new experience - mainly Ivo prayed for me and was there for me, and also Babu because she was a hostes for the Egyptians..
Oki... a word came up to my mind right now - muffin :D xD I enjoy baking like never before! I bake cheesecake (american way and the czech one), muffins of all kinds and I baked cupcakes just today! Hah I hope I will enjoy cooking this much! :D
What else to say? Oh, MladejVOLANT/ YoungVOLANT for kids aged 12-15! Vita, Krusty, Verca, Martin and I are gonna be leaders of this thing... Third weekend in September we are going to spend together, sleeping in the tents, playing games.. just to get to know each other more. I´m afraid of spiders.. but I can do it! I´m a strong independent woman.. or not? :D
I guess this is the end.. no coffee, almost midnight, energy down, yawning :) I will add some photos too. Ohh, and the title of this post - whispering whistle and captivating colors - don´t find anything special in that, I just didn´t know what to write as a title :D and I like how these words sound together :)

May/June Update

2010-06-01T11:49:00.000-07:00

The summer is comming soon and so I would like to give a little update about what´s going on in my life now.
From the beginning of 2010 I´ve been praying about next summer and about what God wants me to do. I considered being a Summer Intern (serving at 3 english camps, translating) but that eventually didn´t happen. First I was kind of disappointed but I keep seeking God´s will in this. I know God wanted me to think about the possibility of serving Him that way and maybe get ready for the summer of 2011. But this year, God has something amazing and better for me! Now, when I know I´m not gonna be an intern, I am looking forward to going on our Sumperk VOLANT english camp!!
Also, there is something that occupies my mind a lot and it´s kind of hard for me to stay focused on whatever I have to do (e.g. learning) and God knows that! He knows I would not be a good intern this summer, I would not be 100% focused on evangelism and God´s mission here in Czech among the students.. So I´m enjoying different feelings and experiences God has been giving me and I try to live up to His standards. I am so excited!!
My exam season has been blessed, God provided me with all the exams passed so far. I have two more to write - a test from the EU (the hardest exam, I ask you for prayers) on June 8 and a test from American History on June 10. If I pass, I will be free to enjoy preparation time for english camp and follow-up activities! I am also excited of becoming an aunt for the third time sometime in July!! :)

*Therefore, as God´s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.* Colossians 3:12-17

I also listened to a song by Casting Crowns called "In Me". It encouraged me enormously. Here´s the lyrics:

If you asked me to leap
Out of my boat on the crashing waves
If you ask me to go
Preach to a lost world that Jesus saves

I'll go, but I cannot go alone
'Cause I know I'm nothing on my own
But the power of Christ in me makes me strong
Makes me strong

'Cause when I'm weak, You make me strong
When I'm blind you shine Your light on me
'Cause I'll never get by living on my own ability
How refreshing to know You don't need me
How amazing to find that you want me
So I'll stand on Your Truth, and I'll fight with Your Strength
Until You bring the victory, by the power of Christ in me

If you ask me to run
And carry your light into foreign land
If you ask me to fight
Deliver your people from satan's hand

I'll go, but I cannot go alone
'Cause I know I'm nothing on my own
But the power of Christ in me makes me strong
Makes me strong

'Cause when I'm weak, You make me strong
When I'm blind you shine Your light on me
'Cause I'll never get by living on my own ability
How refreshing to know You don't need me
How amazing to find that You want me
So I'll stand on Your Truth, and I'll fight with Your Strength
Until You bring the victory, by the power of Christ in me

To reach out with Your hands
To learn through Your eyes
To love with the love of a savior
To feel with Your heart
and to think with Your mind
I'd give my last breath for Your glory

'Cause when I'm weak, You make me strong
When I'm blind you shine Your light on me
'Cause I'll never get by living on my own ability

When I'm weak, You make me strong
When I'm blind you shine Your light on me
'Cause I'll never get by living on my own ability
How refreshing to know You don't need me
How amazing to find that You want me
So I'll stand on Your Truth, and I'll fight with Your Strength
Until You bring the victory, by the power of Christ in me
The power of Christ in me
The power of Christ in me

OST: May

2010-06-01T11:31:00.000-07:00

Switchfoot - Mess of Me

Jamie Cullum - Everlasting Love

Linkin Park - Faint

Owl City - Fireflies

DragonForce - Through the Fire and Flames

Out of tension comes strength

2010-05-04T04:49:00.000-07:00

"Out of tension comes strength," my business english professor once said, I don´t remember in what context.. but that´s not so important :)
In my mind, I immediately applied that quote on faith. God uses tough situations to strenghten us up, to proove the genuineness of our faith. The Apostle Peter tells us that we may "suffer grief in all kinds of trials".
I am so thankful that I can go through the sufferings too.. I mean, I love when I share happiness and joy with God and I feel like I could fly.. But when I fail in various things I realize how much I need God. And when I feel like I´m gonna cry in a while, well - I maybe start crying but knowing that God is with me and "puts His arms around me" makes me feel.. FREE :)
And there are also moments in life when one even doesn´t know how they feel.. You don´t know whether to cry or to laugh... You feel God has been CHANGING.. something (but you cannot even say what it is) :D haha ok, this starts to be confusing even for me :D
I just... feel my life is changing and I don´t know how :) I thank God maybe almost every day that he gave me such great friends who help me get through difficult situations! I feel stronger than ever before... I cannot find words to express my feelings right now.
Last Saturday was ther cleaning day at my church - CLEANING PARTY! :) And I saw how everybody helped each other.. It was great to see people cooperating, really like a big family. Big awesome imperfect family. Different people did different things (cleaning windows, painting walls, etc..) but we all are united in Christ. Oh how I wish my family cooperated like this as well...
I don´t even know how to conclude... just... praise God when you are going through the storm of confusing feelings! Praise God for he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. Praise God every minute of your life!

OST: April

2010-05-04T04:39:00.000-07:00

Here are some songs I was listening to during the beautiful month of April :)

Casting Crowns - Praise You In This Storm

Delirious - History Maker

[dweeb] - It´s OK

Casting Crowns - East To West

Stéphane Query - Combien Dieu est Grand

Highlights of March

2010-03-28T06:55:00.000-07:00

March has been full of events for me! This weekend was the first one in March spent at home. :)

Imperfect is the new perfect - ladies´ night at VOLANT club. Awesome time spent with beautiful girls/women/ladies/friends!
SKH student services + INRI road student service
I saw a movie in 3D for the first time - Alice in Wonderland!
I experienced being eaten by a dinosaur for the first time! :D

our youth group spent a weekend together - VOLANT vacation - great time!
Worship Festival Vsetín 2010 - "absofreakinglutely superawesome" said my Facebook status! :)
"study" week - a week off school! juHuuu! but-soooo many assignments!
Thomas Graumann lecture "2x saved child" about WW2 and his life afterwards
making decision whether to apply for the Intern team or not
my pregnant sister-in-law said I was gonna have another niece!
I decided to play the piano again! challenge accepted :) (I re-remembered almost all dots and chords, I forgot it during those 3 years of not playing at all..)

Colonization of the world

2010-03-22T14:57:00.000-07:00

just an interesting video...

OST: March

2010-03-21T14:15:00.000-07:00

I decided to post the "tracklist" every month, kind of.. soundtrack of the particular month of my life (hah we´ll see if I keep my word). I´ll just pick a few songs that I was listening to, that somehow caught my attention.

(after unsuccessful tries to upload a video which took incredibly looong time i decided to post just links to youtube.com .. :D )

This Beautiful Republic - Right Now

Runaway My Son - Trnitá

Kings of Leon - Wasted Time

This Beautiful Republic - Beautifully Broken

Avenged Sevenfold - Lost

Like Women of the Bible...

2010-03-16T02:24:00.000-07:00

Like Deborah,
I will serve the Lord in power, and speak his word without fear.

Like Esther,
I will intercede for God´s people before the throne.

Like Abigail,
I will humble myself to wash the feet of the servants of the Lord.

Like Sarah,
I will respect my spouse and his ministry to the Lord.

Like Hannah,
I will dedicate my children to the Lord.

Like Priscilla,
I will explain the way of God more perfectly to those who are seeking.

Like Lydia,
I will be a worshiper of God and open my home to his ministries.

Like Tabitha (Dorcus),
I will always do good and help the poor.

Like Joanna,
I will use my wealth to support the ministry of Jesus.

Like Mary, the mother of Jesus,
I will hear the word of God to me and will answer, "Be it unto me as you have said."

Like Mary, the sister of Martha,
I will know the voice of Jesus and hear his words.

Like Mary, the Magdalene,
I will keep at the feet of Jesus and love him unto death.

DELIGHT

2010-03-15T14:14:00.000-07:00

"Delight yourself in the LORD and He will give you the desires of your heart." -- Psalm 37:4

God used this verse as the answer to my prayers. We have desires, we want so many things but we don´t always get them. And we wait and wait and wait till God´s answer changes from "no" to "yes". But God is not a vending machine. He gives me what I NEED, not what I want. I will not write about the desire now (first I need to understand some things that have been going on lately). Anyways, as I prayed to Jesus, I came across this verse ("accidentally" :) ) and I just wondered what "delight" meant. Delight yourself - rejoice? How? Does it mean I don´t delight myself in the Lord enough?

Ok, I found some definitions of the word "delight" on google:
- to take great pleasure or joy
- extreme pleasue /satisfaction/amusement
- to please/endear/enjoy
- to have a good time
- adore/love/ enjoy enthusiastically

And I realized my desire blinded me, I would even say it enchained me. We are sometimes so concentrated on ourselves that we forget to fully trust God. I think it´s because deep down we know that our desire (it can be anything) is bad, sinful, against God; so we know that God will not give it to us. And we picture in our minds what it would be like if we had what we wanted, or we think about various ways how to get the desire without God. But it´s impossible. We can´t lie to God! :)

2 additional verses:
- Psalm 40:8: "I delight to do your will, O my God, and your law is within my heart." (NKJV)
- Romans 7:22: "For in my inner being I delight in God´s law."

I like the expression "have a good time"... It sounds so easy :) Go out! See how beautiful things God created! Read your Bible - you will get to know God! Give your worries and joy to Him! Spend time with Him! Rejoice even when you don´t feel very good - He will carry you! Just.. have a good time with God..

I was talking about the word "rejoice" on more spiritual level but I also have in mind the physical level :) What do you do when you´re happy? I mean what is the physical demonstration of your joy? It can be DANCING right? I believe God really likes it when he sees us dancing because of joy and praising Him!

This Beautiful Republic

2009-12-07T03:44:00.000-08:00

I´ve discovered one band recently, called This Beautiful Republic. It´s christian rock, awesome lyrics.. The song that caught my interest was My God. It perfectly fits to what I am going through now, how I feel sometimes about my relationship with God. It´s amazing to receive God´s mercy every single day without deserving it.. I can´t avoid ups and downs in my life but I am so stubborn that I can´t give some things to God, which then makes me feel alone and angry and all those feelings I think I shouldn´t have. He still shows me His love, that He´s perfect, He cares, He protects, He teaches me what I should change in my behavior.. and I´m so ungrateful cuz I don´t obey Him. Perfect christian mask is gone. Please pray that God would send me someone to whom I could be really close to share life and confess sins to one another.. that I would be able to live according to God´s standards..I want to feel JOY again..

(My God, oh, my God)

I'm losing contact, forgetting what is real
Able to touch but not able to feel
Its easier to shut out everyone
I'm chasing after my newest distraction to escape it all

My God, oh, my God what have I become?
The self-addicted one
My God, oh, my God You've never failed me
You're what I need

So often I'm the sleeping prayer
More ofter I'm the weeping betrayer
Sometimes I play the martyr, become the traitor
The humble sinner has never been a role I knew to play

My God, oh, my God what have I become?
The self-addicted one
My God, oh, my God You've never failed me
You're what I need

Treason, a pound of flesh is not dead
Leaving a crippled man
I'll give You all I have left, a straining outstretched hand
Is it enough, is it enough?
Reach down and take me back, take me back

My God, oh, my God what have I become?
The self-addicted one
My God, oh, my God You've never failed me
You're what I need

My God, oh, my God (x2)

I'll give You all I have left, a straining outstretched hand

Olomouc freshman

2009-10-20T08:26:00.000-07:00

College started a month ago. I decided for a beautiful city of Olomouc, the study of english and applied economy (for now, I´m thinking of an additional field, like French language or some kind of Christian education). Well, the first week went surprisingly OK.. I didn´t get lost :) I found all my classrooms (even though i was looking for one classroom for like a half an hour). I like my subjects. It´s hard, I know.. but which good college isn´t?
Leňa and I started the Bible study (the book of Daniel), and we came across the verse from Proverbs 16:9
"In his heart a man plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps"

And that kind of makes me calm. I always say something like "i decided", "i want to study", "i will apply for another college next year" etc.. but first, God gives me the desire to do this or that.. I make my own plans, but what are they compared to God´s plans? No matter how some of the subjects are hard or how much I am scared -- God is with me and He´s powerful :)

I have a lot of great memories from this last month :) I live in an apartment with 5 other girls.. we went to the Irish pub together to have a delicious hot chocolate of various flavors :) I went to Krizovatka english evening with Leňa! The Bible study!.. so many book stores in here! and so many homeless people who often ask for money :D I tasted the ginger beer, and I´m going to try the cinnamon beer as well :) I fell asleep during my lecture for the first time ever, and woke up shocked because I almost fell down from my chair :D I went to Studentske krestanske hnuti.. I really enjoy waiting for my train, 35 minutes delayed.. I already know how to use the gas cooker.. my nieces celebrated their second birthdays, so we had 2 big family parties!
well, there´s more to tell but you know, I´m too lazy to write it all down :)

HEART (Philippians 4:6-8)

2009-09-11T14:33:00.000-07:00

Heart is a symbol of affection/love, it´s one of the most important organs in our bodies, it´s also a nice picture J But our heart is something much more. According to the verse in the Bible, all life comes from our heart.

*Above all else, guard your heart, for it affects everything you do.* NLT translation

*Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life.* NIV translation

It is the source of our lives. If we want to live a good life, having a good, pure source can be a succesful start. By ´good life´ I mean have a relationship with the living God, to me good life equals to live in Christ. So, we have to guard our own hearts, because Jesus himself search in our hearts. There are quite a lot of verses that talk about this:

* And you, my son Solomon, acknowledge the God of your father, and serve him with wholehearted devotion and with a willing mind, for the LORD searches every heart and understands every motive behind the thoughts.* 1 Chronicles 28:9

*O righteous God, who searches minds and hearts, bring to an end the violence of the wicked and make the righteous secure.* Psalm 7:9
* Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts.* Psalm 139:237
* I the LORD search the heart and examine the mind…* Jeremiah 17:10

* And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God's will.* Romans 8:27
* …Then all the churches will know that I am he who searches hearts and minds, and I will repay each of you according to your deeds.* Revelation 2:23

Alright.. but how can we guard our hearts?? HOW? We are never going to be as pure as Jesus, but at least we can try.. I believe the answer to that question we can find in Philippians 4:7:

*And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus*

Another important part comes before this verse, in Philippians 4:6 the apostle Paul says:

*Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.* Thank God, talk to God, spend time with Him, tell Him both your joy and problems… Have a relationship with Jesus Christ… And the peace of God will guard your heart.

And to be a bit more practical, *Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable- if anything is excellent or praiseworthy- think about such things.* Philippians 4:8

These days, we can easily be distracted by so many things around us, but if we want, we can make it. God didn´t make a step backward.. we did. Do not let evil shake you and your emotions like a stormy sea. Hope these verses will encourage you the same way as I was encouraged. Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.(James 4:8) Be on your guard, stand firm in the faith, be men of courage, be strong!(1 Corinthians 16:13) BE STRONG, we´re not home yet, but one day we will be…

MY 10 THINGS

2009-07-13T08:39:00.000-07:00

Since my high school studies are done and there are loads of changes before me, I´m making a list of things I´m praying for (I mean for longer time, and they´re related to me personally). I don´t like changes. I´m going to meet lots of new people, and some of my friends left - Klára, Cassie and Trevor are back in the US, e-camp is over and my friends from New Hope Church left today.. I´m going to have a new computer, two supermarkets I usually go shopping to changed their names so it´s kind of confusing now.. But apparently, changes are the part of our lives. Fortunately, God´s character doesn´t change, He stays the same.

Anyway, I share these personal things about my future with God:

1) new school, new place of living, new people, new city, new experiences
- I´ll need God´s help with moving to another city, I´ll need His wisdom and confidence to serve Him and be a living stone

2) a way to serve God in the future/ next summer
- JV e-camps or another way of serving anywhere else?

3) family
- Our family needs the Doctor. I´d like to have good relationships with all members of our family. They need to feel joy again, they need the Lord to fill them with forgiveness, love, understanding of each other or at least respect of each other.

4) high school friendships
- I´m afraid of losing touch with my girls - Stáňa, Klárka, Magda, Evča and a few more people from my class I liked. Stáňa, Klára and I are going to be in different cities, busy students who will probably see each other very rarely and I don´t want to lose these girls!!

5) activities in my free time
- I mostly mean christian activities for students in Olomouc, like SKH (Studentske krestanske hnuti) or Krizovatka (Crossroad)

6) VOLANT
- ohh, my dear Volant club. It needs lots of prayers! Cassie and Trevor left, Radek will study again, etc.. I pray that we would stay in touch with students from e-camp and that we would be an example for them.

*As you come to him, the living Stone- rejected by men but chosen by God and precious to him-you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.* - 1 Peter 2:4-5

*My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, for man's anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires.* - James 1:19-20

*Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.* - Colossians 3:13-14

* May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you a spirit of unity among yourselves as you follow Christ Jesus, so that with one heart and mouth you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.* - Romans 15:5-6

*Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honour one another above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervour, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Share with God's people who are in need. Practise hospitality.Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited. Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: It is mine to avenge; I will repay, says the Lord. On the contrary:If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head. Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.* - Romans 12:9-21

7) sorry, this point is really private..

8) traveling or living abroad

- I´m fed up with living in Czech (sometimes), and I feel it would be better to change a place of living for a while.. seriously, I´m tired of our culture
- there are several options/reasons of moving abroad: studying (normal or bible college?), au-pair, job, being a part-time/full-time missionary, or just having a break,traveling and getting to know different places and cultures

9) education
- I´m going to study a college and I know it´s hard and I´m pretty scared, but it´s important, and "everything is possible with God"

10) growing in faith
- I want to live in Christ, to spend time with God, to praise Him, serve Him, I want to read and understand the Bible, to grow in faith and please God

So, these things are just fragment of what I have in my mind.. :) I discover the power of prayer more and more.. which is just awesome!! (© by Leňa ;) )

VOLANT English Camp 2009 - Stories

2009-07-11T07:14:00.000-07:00

It´s over!!! :( I just came back home from english camp, after amazing week spent with old and new friends! We had fun, we played crazy games (crowd breakers), made bracelets, we went through several english lessons, czech people tried to teach americans some czech words (and the americans rocked!).

This year we did a new style of evening programs, called The Story of God. I know that this story is very powerful itself, but I was kind of afraid that it would seem like forcing for some students..but I think most of them were OK with it. I´d describe it like a huge one-week bible study. Sometimes students didn´t want to answer the questions either because they were too easy or because of no privacy (3 other discussion groups were in the same room with us). But I was quite satisfied in the end.. You know, that Story of God is really amazing! And it has the power! God will use this story, I´m sure! However, I missed the old style of camps..
Thinking about all the stuff around e-camp reminded me my first e-camp 2 years ago, where I met many american friends but especially two wonderful girls became really close to my heart, two beautiful american sisters - Jess and Abby!! Since Underground e-camp 2007, God has made it possible for me to meet these girls again, and I´m so thankful for that.

"Maturita" - the test of my maturity :)

2009-07-11T06:46:00.000-07:00

I PASSED!!! Yay!!! Kind of an old information, but i decided to post it on my blog anyway. It was hard for me and my classmates, especially Stana and Klara. But God was with us in that room full of nervosity :) He gave us Meg, who was encouraging us all the time, for around 11 hours (because we all did that exam on the same day, but in different times)!!! Thank You God and thank you Meg!
Another point - college! I was accepted to all universities and fields I applied for!!! I was so amazed and thankful that God opened so many doors for me! There were so many ways how to serve Him in next few years, different possibilities.. Surprisingly for me, I started feeling great desire to go to college in Olomouc (a city about 50 minutes drive from my hometown). Even though I´m a bit scared, I believe I can make it, because "with man this is impossible, but withGod all things are possible" (Matthew 19:26, Mark 10:27). I think this is the place He wants me to be, to live and serve Him..

Plans for May and June

2009-04-26T12:52:00.000-07:00

The two following months will be really hard and busy for me, so probably there will not be posts during this time (i don´t know). I have the first part of entrance exams in Brno on May 9. I´m going to sit my school eaving exam, maturita, between May 18 and May 21. Then another entrance exams in Olomouc on May 25. The second part of exams in Brno takes place on June1 or 2. And finally the last entrance exams on June 3.
I feel like I´ve been living in a "bubble" since last summer, and it´s very difficult for me to concentrate on learning.. I started fear for my future life even if I know I shouldn´t because God is with me. What is really important for me now - I always give Him my worries (not only them, joy too :)) and I know He will not lead me through the tests I wouldn´t be able to bear.
Also, I got a new version of Czech Bible, the translation of 21 century!! :) I was "exploring" it quite a long time.. and I suddenly came to a verse from Proverbs 3:5-6 and I felt like God spoke to me in that moment and told me: Calm down and trust me.

"Trust in the LORD with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight." NAS version

"Trust in the LORD with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding.Seek his will in all you do, and he will direct your paths." NLT version

Thank you for your prayers (Cassie thank you for praying for clear-thinking mind!) and other support!

E - camp training

2009-03-29T12:20:00.000-07:00

Our VOLANT e-camp team went to Cesky Tesin last Friday (March 20) to English Camp Training!! I was there for the first time and was excited to be part of the team.
We had really great time there. We tried new evening program, we learned to sing and dance the camp song for 2009, we could go to several seminars. I enjoyed the evening worship and prayers the most (prayer is sooo powerful :) ) I felt so sick, I was tired, there was extremely cold -- but that time was the best for me.. just spending time with my Father, praying about e-camps and Czech students who have never heard the Gospel or haven´t accepted it, believed... God has done so many amazing things among students in Sumperk (look at me :) ) and I know this is not the end.

Trevor had a seminar about being the part of the camp team and since I will be a part of the camp team for the first time, I went there. As Christians, we are the part of the Body.

"Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work: If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no-one to help him up! Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone? Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken."

Ecclesiastes 4:9-12

And as various parts of our body cooperate, we should cooperate too, as a TEAM. We can pray and encourage each other, we can advise or lecture each other.

The two main points Trev told us:

1. each team needs strong goal, purpose-- so what purpose does our camp team have?

- to make people interested in faith

- to meet new people and build relationships with them, encourage them

- for everybody would have the opportunity to hear about God, what´s He like and why we need Him

2. there are two "cancers" that can destroy e-camp (and camp team)

- competition

- comparison

English camp is not about victory in games, or if my english is better than any other´s.. it´s about building relationships and simply being "livingstones" for Czech students :) Well, I hope I´ll be able to come to Volant e-camp and that God will lead us through the discussion groups, give us patience, and open the eyes and soften the hearts of the lost.

Capital punishment

2009-02-04T13:04:00.000-08:00

I was just looking for some news on the Internet (because I usually don´t watch the news in TV) and suddenly that title appeared: "It´s been 20 years from the last execution in the Czech." So I read the article but it was uite boring, so I continued to the discussion. I was SHOCKED. Most of the people would like to restore the capital punishment. There were loads of comments like: ""Let´s kill that monster! Eye for an eye! I will not pay for these creatures!" And I wrote: Everybody has the right to life. Well, I was almost "stoned to death" :) They told me I am a pseudohumanist and idiot. Yes, this is Czech culture :( Almost 82% said they would restore the capital punishment! A cultivated democratic state DOESN´T use this punishment.. or SHOULDN´T use.. (for example the US). I think it´s sooo arrogant to decide about other people´s lives! I mean - we don´t give life to others, so we have no right to give it away, to end it. God gives us life, He will judge. If a murderer kills someone´s whole family, he usually wants a REVENGE.. but what revenge is it? It´s just a shortening of the suffering. And also there can be a judicial error, of course. You can never be SURE (see the Prison Break :D ).. And we, Christians, were simply told: "Love your enemies" (we discussed it at our Girls Bible Study this Tuesday). I don´t remember which of the girls said that (sorry) but I wrote it on the fringe of the paper: It´s more painful to love than to hate. And most of the people usually choose the simpler solution, right? It´s not very hard to HATE.. The reaction of the people is a "confirmation" that they FORGET really fast. The capital punishment was abolished after the fall of Communism.. We still don´t have a good system of law.. And people would like to kill the other people and even WATCH the execution... It´s frustrating!

LOST (not the TV show :) )

2009-02-04T11:08:00.000-08:00

Sorry for not updating so long time!! Blog isn´t the only thing I was neglecting. Too much stuff to do to school, family, the PROM, maturita, applications to colleges... I´m sure you all know this situation. Like Trevor said: "Everyone is busy." - or rather - everyone says he´s busy and thinks he´s busier than people around him. That´s true. I think this quite often :)
Another thing which affected me on Trevor´s sermon was that he said something like..we should keep meeting the LOST people in Šumperk (I don´t remember what exactly he said about this). I think that since I´ve become Christian, the relationships with my unbelieving friends changed too (of course). Some friends ask me about information, some friends look the other way when I pass them by... or they just don´t want to talk about it. That´s why one of my friendships "froze" a bit - and I´m sorry of it. I know it´s important to have a connection with the LOST people. I pray for this quite often. But how can I explain to my friend why it´s better to spend more time with me and people from VOLANT than with her boyfriend? It seems she´s falling deeper and deeper to the SIN and I don´t know what to do (apart from praying)... Maybe the least I can do is to maintain good sincere relationships with unbelievers, so they could see then how GOD works on me...

30 Seconds To Mars - SAVIOR

2008-12-21T05:01:00.000-08:00

This song is one of my most favourites from this band.. But the meaning is not so clear -- many people think it´s about a guy asking his s(S)avior to save him, or NOT to save him, or it´s about a guy who wants to kill himself; or who wanted to kill himself and doesn´t want to anymore.. So what do YOU think? Is this song kind of religious or not?

Here´s the link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VWia6yzAvB4

I-don´t-know-what-to-write-as-a-title

2008-12-07T12:06:00.000-08:00

We had a goodbye party yesterday, because Erica and Josh are leaving soon... so soon! :-( These few months were amazing... but they WILL return!
There was also a concert --Alfa Gospel Praises. It´s a choir from Zábřeh, I saw them singing before.. but that was the first time I heard rap during the gospel song :) there was so many people in the chapel where we have services (I hope every Sunday was like yesterday).
Ok, I wanted to mention a chapel too. I´ve never wrote about the room where the meetings are, I´ve never payed much attention to the places of worship. Our chapel is a high white room, very simple, no scary pictures on the walls as in Catholic churches... big windows, the pews (hope it´s the right word for them) and big cross inscribed in the wall in front of the pews.
Yesterday during the party, I needed to be alone for a while (I received a message that I needed to think about).. so I went downstairs and tried if the chapel was opened--it was!! I have never been there when it was empty before. It was dark and cold there... and calm...such a calm place! It was magic moment for me.. talking to my Savior, looking at the cross... Simply it was much different atmosphere! :D I hope to come to the church next Sunday...

Tuesdays & Tempting

2008-11-19T05:25:00.000-08:00

Yesterday we had a GREAT girls Bible study with Erica, cupcakes and coffee! The recent Tuesdays have become the "key-days" of the week. I always learn some new interesting things! For example that I should not be afraid to ask God for help. It´s not like that: Lord, I need you please help me! and God says for himself: ´What, Pavla?? AGAIN?! I´m fed up with you asking me for help all the time!´ :-) It´s not like that... The good explanation of this is also in Psalm 86: 5-7 (thank you Erica!) which says:

"You are forgiving and good, O Lord, abounding in love to all who call to you. Hear my prayer, O Lord; listen to my cry for mercy. In the day of my trouble I will call to you, for you will answer me."

And the lyrics of the song Arms Around Me by Hawk Nelson sounds like this:

"You´re always near me, even when it´s ugly, even when I´m screaming up to You. I´m thankful for your mercy, You always seem to hear me, it´s not always easy to push through.."

And the second thing I want to SHARE today is that I found while reading James what horrible I did! In my post called "My Little Depression" I wrote: Why are we constantly tempted and tested by God?´And I told my friend: ´God is tempting me!´ But then I read in James 13-15:

"When tempted, no one should say, ´God is tempting me.´ For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death."

I realized how blind I was when I thought GOD was tempting me! It´s just my problem, my evil desire somewhere deep inside me! But it´s NOT in God´s nature, He doesn´t want to seduce us, temp us.. "God is love" (according to1 John 4:16) and LOVE "is not self-seeking... it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth" (as it´s in 1 Corinthians 13:5-6) Ithink when someone tempts us--he wants to seduce us to do wrong, to humiliate us-- but God is merciful and hates evil things. So I asked Him to forgive me, a thank Him that he showed me I was wrong!
Well, next weekend I might come to English Weekend to Puste Zibridovice, it´s kind of "energy and faith-injection" instead of church.. I´m hoping to come there!

Beauty

2008-11-10T07:51:00.000-08:00

I want to draw your attention to a blog of Timothy, especially on his latest article about women´s beauty. There are some really nice ideas...

For attractive lips, speak words of kindness.
For lovely eyes, seek out the good in people.
For a slim figure, share your food with the hungry.
For beautiful hair, let a child run his or her fingers through it once a day.
For poise, walk with the knowledge that you never walk alone.

Go to: http://tlc412.blogspot.com/2008/11/womans-beauty.html

Kutless

2008-10-28T14:46:00.000-07:00

I started listening to a Christian band called KUTLESS. It´s kind of worship band I think..I realized today that one of their songs - Better Is One Day - we sang in the church in Czech (or in Slovak maybe-I don´t know exactly).. Oh my, I do like them! Here´s the lyrics of their song "Promise of a Lifetime"

I have fallen to my knees
As I sing a lullaby of pain
I'm feeling broken in my melody
As I sing to help the tears go away

Then I remember the pledge you made to me

[CHORUS:]
I know you're always there
To hear my every prayer inside
I'm clinging to the promise of a lifetime
I hear the words you say
To never walk away from me and leave behind
The promise of a lifetime

Will you help me fall apart
Pick me up, take me in your arms
Find my way back from the storm
And you show me how to grow
Through the change

I still remember the pledge you made to me

[BRIDGE:]
I am holding on to the hope I have inside
With you I will stay through every day
Putting my understanding aside

And I am comforted

Friends

2008-10-28T13:28:00.000-07:00

This year´s english camp had a theme "being human". We discussed relationships in our lives, and that every single person is unique but we have so many things same or similar, and we go through the same situations. One of the many things we have in common is FRIENDS and friendship.

Everybody needs this kind of relationship. I used to be so arrogant and simple that I thought I didn´t need friends. I mean I belonged to a bunch of people that I called my friends but they weren´t really my friends. I thought I don´t need real friends so I was content with my fake "friends". Does that make sense? :)

I was sorely mistaken. I realize now how IMPORTANT is to have soem friends, we are the people! - we like sharing our thoughts or problems with others, and we really need to. The movie "Into The Wild" is about guy who is so disgusted of the society, world, people around him, that he decides to burn all his money and cut his credit cards into pieces, leave home and go to Alaska to live there alone. But in the end he realizes that he was wrong, that he RAN AWAY from his happiness.
I know now how I am lucky to have so many good friends and I think I don´t DESERVE it! And I´ve been thanking GOD for it! Because He loves me so much and wants to be close to me..it´s amazing feeling... and He sent so many kind people to me, to help me with finding Him! This is a real blessing, isn´t it!

One of my dearest friend, Cassie, started a new Bible Study--we call it the Girls Bible Study (but right today Vašek almost joined us :D )-- and it´s really nice to get together with girls from Volant: Cassie, Erica, Babu, Sharkie, Ifka and Magda! LOVE YOU girls :-P

And LORD I thank You so much for Jess, Abby, Chris, Josh, Katie, Kimberly and all the Americans! Thank you!

The blog title

2008-10-09T12:01:00.000-07:00

I have changed a blog title a bit... well not a bit, it´s completely different :) You may ask why I chose this title... so here´s the answer, this part and lines are my favourite:

They stopped running on the top of the hill and sat onto a huge stone. Everywhere around them there was a high grass and a dead silence... as the only noise you could consider the chattering of the birds. Joseph wrung his T-shirt soaked in water, while Nathalie was trying to dry her hair, wet because of the rain. She looked at a beautiful scenery extending in front of them.
" Wow! Look at that, Nath!" Joseph said suddenly and pointed on the sky. There was a beautiful, amazing, colorful and nowhere ending rainbow. Nathalie held her breath for a while.
"Oh, I canot remember the last time I saw the rainbow! It´s something that I really like a lot," she told him. Her face seemed to be more tender.
"Why do you like it so much?" Joseph wondered and looked at her.
"For me it´s a symbol of unity and...hope; that after something bad happens, another nice thing comes. When I see a rainbow, I feel.. joy? I can´t even explain those feelings on my own!
It´s God´s sign of hope. As it´s written in the Bible: ´I have set my rainbow in the clouds, and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and the earth... Never again will the waters become a flood to destroy all life.´ Do you see? Amazing phenomenom! Nobody knows where it ends - or if it even ends at all!
Lots of tales have been told about rainbows... According to one of the Irish myths, there is a treasure at the end of the rainbow. But who knows? Some may think that a place where the rainbow ends is a resting place for lost souls hoping for eternity. Whatever there is, it must be breathtaking!
The shape of it.. like a way of life, the heavenly and colorful roller coaster which is very hard to get the tickets for!"
"Cool, Nathalie, I have never thought of it in that way," Joseph pointed pensively. He began to speak again after a while of silence. "Nathalie, I HAVE the tickets to the end of the rainbow."
She found his hand and put her palm on his.
"Are you sure?" she asked.
He smiled at her, continuing with their quibbling.
"Yes, of course! But only if you want."
"How could you think I would ever be able to go on this amazing journey without you?" she whispered and a tear of joy appeared in her eye. Joseph, as much happy as she was, hugged her and covered her eye and the tear with his lips...
... and the rainbow was still overhanging them, as a sign of their hope...

What do you think the expression "ticket to rainbow" means?
PS: I´m sorry that the translation is not very good :(

What do you think?

2008-10-07T11:14:00.000-07:00

Hey guys! I´m sorry it always takes me so much time to write another article! School´s just harder than last year :( It will be shorter today.
Well, yesterday I read 1 Timothy (yop, I was inspired by Timothy´s blog http://tlc412.blogspot.com/). A short part surprised me, or even shocked! It´s the 1 Timothy 2:11-15

"A woman should learn in quietness and full submission. I do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man; she must be silent. For Adam was formed first, then Eve. And Adam was not the one deceived; it was the woman who was deceived and became a sinner. But women will be saved through childbearing - if they continue in faith, love and holiness with propriety."

I just cannot understand it. So humiliating for women..and all with the "full submission"... it´s not righteous. Well maybe I am a bit feminist :) But I cannot imagine the full submission.. I am talking about the authority of men over women.. I would like to have a husband who would stand by my side and support me, love me and who would be willing to do some compromises..
On the other side - I don´t know much about these things :) I have almost no experiences in this theme. So please - discuss, write a comment, message or whatever if you want - for me to understand more!

Sunday service - Living stones

2008-09-14T09:36:00.001-07:00

"As you come to him, the living Stone - rejected by men but chosen by God and precious to him - you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ." - 1 Peter 2:4-5

Today, I came to visit Cassie and Trevor, and I also went to the church with them. I can say it was amazing - the singing and playing (Good job, Trev! :-D), the testimony of one young man, a sermon... The theme was about that many Christians are used to live calmly, in a DESCREET way, to care about their faith but no one else. I think it might be true, I know some people living that way. But what would we gain if we lived only that way, comfortably?
Those verses make us not live that way, but to live active, kind and useful life. Useful NOT for us but to the others. As it´s said, we should be "living stones" - Christ´s character should be reflected in us, so everybody can see it according to our behavior and that could make people to think again about things.
In fact, I can see how important the testimonies are. Because this is what God wants from us - to share our experiences with people who might never heard about Jesus, or simply with non Christians, to spread Jesus´ "inheritance", the Gospel, to the whole world. Recently, I´ve been reading the book "Acts of the Apostles" by Ellen Gould White. She wrote there: Christ completed work which he was given. He has chosen those who were to continue his work, the twelve apostles (really important mission!).

"Jesus went up on a mountainside and called to him those he wanted, and they came to him. He appointed twelve - designated them apostles - that they might be with him and that he might send them out to preach and to have authority to drive out demons." - Mark 3:13-14

Hard to believe that some people thought that after Christ´s death, all the Christians disappear because of time. For me, this is one of the most obvious evidences of God´s existance. If God didn´t exist and if Jesus were lier, Christianity wouldn´t survive through so long time. But it HAS SURVIVED, actually it might be the most stable church... it was important to tell Jesus´ offer of mercy at that time, to go to another countries that as many people as possible heard about Christ´s acts and could trust Him - and so it´s now. God was so merciful to me that he made me to meet many new people who really ARE living stones. There are still many followers, missionaries, kind of "modern apostles". And I want to be one too. It´s a mission of every Christian - to talk, to share, to help. I know it´s hard. But I want to be a "LIVING STONE"!

The start and the end

2008-09-07T02:59:00.000-07:00

The school has just started. My last year (I hope so :D ) at Gymnázium Zábřeh. I will have to pass my MATURITA and entrance exams to university. This year will be the end of something and the start of something new at the same time. I have lot of things to to for school after that first week! Unbelievable... Czech, English, French, History... my main subjects this year.
I have to write a seminary essay to History until February. There´s lot of themes, events and people to write about - I don´t know what I should chose. But I am thinking of establishment of Christian Church...the first few decades after the crucifixion and ressurection of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. I´ll see... I saw a movie about Paul of Tarsus...interesting. I must discuss it with my teacher...

Political August ?

2008-08-25T01:40:00.000-07:00

This month was kind of "working" for me...and also political. Because in August 1968, Soviet Union invaded Czechoslovakia and the following 20 years was our state under control of communism. During that time, people lost many of their rights - the right to have freedom, right to private property, right to share your opinions without fear of arrest... I can say I am happy I didn´t live in that period, I should be grateful! People couldn´t go to churches if they loved their families and wanted their children to have a good education. I would like to be a writer (maybe, in the future) - and I absolutely can´t imagine that there was a period when writers couldn´t write what they felt because of their different political view, or actors couldn´t act and some singers were not allowed to sing... We should be grateful that God gave us freedom and nobody else has no right to steel it!
The other event of August - the Olympics. I like sport, but I didn´t watch the Olympics this year. Maybe I let the media to disgust it to me... But in some ways, they´re right. China used the Olympics to publisize itself. I am interested in Chinese culture, but I completely don´t understand their mentality. Chinese are so megalomaniac and perfectionists and the government want to be successful at all costs. People there have no idea about the "other" world because governmet doesn´t allow them to think about things. Everybody who is "against" - must be frozen out. Most of the people live in poverty and Chinese government has given millions (or maybe even billions) of dollars to build many sport centers because of the Olympics. I blame communism. It´s a nice ideology - but an utopic ideology which is unconvertable into practical life. Poor people! I would like to help them but have no idea how...

My little depression

2008-07-30T03:38:00.000-07:00

Why are we constantly TEMPTED and tested by God?
Is that because we recognize REAL faith in God´s plan in hard times? (as Job)
I´ve made my decision and relied on Him. I was sure it would NOT be easy. But I BELIEVE... still believe.
People say: "Love is amazing!" and the others reply: "No, love is pain." So - which of these statements is true?What is love exactly? I think nobody knows and everybody knows at the same time. But what is important - TIMING issue. As Joshua Harris wrote: "The right thing in the wrong time is bad." The tempting is unbearable and without faith I would never make it.
What is love? Is it when you feel happy, JOY, FULFILMENT and mental support when you see your beloved person, when you can talk to him, spend time together and share your thoughts?
Or is it when you feel ANXIETY and a kind of EMPTINESS every moment you are not with your beloved person or - which is much worse - when you are with him, you are sitting next to him and you know that you feel something you SHOULDN´T HAVE FELT because it´s bad? You are confused (and afraid) because you don´t know if you are prepared for that "big" relationship and you also have no idea what your beloved person thinks about you.
I´ll be praying God will give me strength to resist, to concentrate on the important things God prepared for me to do. And whoever read these words - I beg you for praying for me, please!

English Camp again - just for one day :(

2008-07-29T07:54:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, I went to Puste Zibridovice to visit my friends from the english camp 07. I am so glad I could see many familiar faces again - Jess, Chris, Meg, Lukas, Pavel, Mickey, Cassie, Trevor, Radek, Babu, Sharkie - and also that I met new people!
I joined Chris´s english class since I was in his group last year. The day´s theme was LOVE. In afternoon, I ate an ice cream with Jess :) and we went to see guys playing frisbee. It was a dangerous trip because we had to go under electrical wire! Then we watched dancing lesson. I must say Wendy is really flexible! I took a short video where Radek is dancing..but he finally gave it up. And in the evening, we sang and danced (but not my favourite Tossed to and fro) and Josh "Hawai" told us his story about love. It was so interesting to COMPARE what Josh said with what Justin had said at the Cheb Camp! And we also heard re-told Parable of the Lost Son.. and then we went to the discussion groups. Love is my favourite theme.. I think it seemed I am not interested in it or I have no opinion - because I didn´t speak much. I prefer LISTENING to speaking. Or I like sharing my thoughts with people who I am really close to - so if there were only one or two people.. I would feel better and talk more. It´s just me - introverted person. Like I wrote on my facebook profile - come and be patient to get to know me ;) To be honest - I am a bit CONFUSED after our discussion :D
I had to leave at 10 pm.. Oh, saying goodbye to my american and czech friends was the hardest thing of the whole day! I wil try to keep in touch with them - I have Facebook!! I can say that July-28-2008 was the BEST DAY of the whole holidays! I love you Jess! Chris, honey if you love me would you please please smile at me?! :

D :D Oh...it was lot of fun yesterday!

FUTURE?

2008-07-22T10:38:00.000-07:00

Recently, I was thinking about that "great" questions: Who am I? or What has God planned for my future?... What is the purpose of my life? What is the best way to serve God?
Everybody has the PURPOSE of his life. But..I feel like I stopped in a dead point. Like I am standing in a crossroad with many branch lines.. Where to go? Which way is the BEST? How do I recognize that RIGHT way?
I´ve been praying that God will show me what He has prepared for me! I am so impatient - I am still asking: WHEN will He show me the way? It doesn´t matter! - Just believe! When the right time comes, I will know WHICH way it is.

I would like to help people.. but HOW? Or has God prepared something else for me? There are so many posobilities how to help other people! Even words can make others calmer. Is WRITER useful job? Or translator? How to combine my love for languages, books, literature and writing with my desire to help others?

Next year will be kind of revolutionary for me. School leaving exams, entrance exams to university etc.. What if I FAIL? What would I do? Sometimes we want something, but God gives us something else and we are not able to understand - not now. But we should be satisfied with what He gives us, because He knows what is best for us and has THE PLAN.

I don´t want to go A way... I want to go THAT way, HIS way, RIGHT way!!

English Camp 2008

2008-07-10T13:03:00.001-07:00

This year I am also coming to the English Camp. Unfortunately, I will be working in August so I can´t come to English Camp Šumperk (organised by Volant). There will be the Minnesota team, my friends! I´m so sorry I can´t spend that week with them.
But I´m going to another camp, in Krkonoše. There will be people from Cheb and the California team - and also Jenny, Magda and Klára - my friends so you have no idea how much I am looking forward to the camp, to meet new friends, discuss with them different themes (not only Christian themes), to take photos :D I am leaving on Saturday 12th and it lasts one week. The only thing I am afraid of is the journey. We have to go by train and it´s so complicated. But I believe God will keep us strong, He knows how much I am looking forward and how much it is important for me!
Cassie told me today that I could probably come to see my friends from Minnesota (especially Jess) in Puste Žibřidovice Camp, just for one day! So, we have to arrange it!

BIBLE = CELL PHONE ???

2008-07-10T12:52:00.000-07:00

Co kdybychom s Biblí zacházeli jako s mobilem...?

Co kdybychom ji stále nosili v kabelce nebo tašce?
Co kdybychom se pro ni vrátili, kdybychom ji zapoměli doma?
Co kdybychom v ní párkrát denně zalistovali?
Co kdybychom skrze ni přijímali textové zprávy?
Co kdybychom s ní zacházeli tak, jako kdybychom se bez ní neobešli?
Co kdybychom ji koupili dětem jako dárek?
Co kdybychom ji používali na cestách?
Co kdybychom ji používali ve stavu nouze?
A nakonec... na rozdíl od mobilu se nemusíme bát toho, že by naše Bible byla někdy odpojena ze sítě... Ježíš už totiž účet zaplatil!!

in English:

What about we treated the BIBLE in the same way as our CELL-PHONE?

What about we carried it in our hand bag all the time?
What about we returned for it if we forgot it at home?
What about we browsed in it a few times a day?
What about we took the text messages through it?
What about we handle it like we didn´t get along without it?
What about we bought it as a present for our children?
What about we used it while traveling?
What about we used it in a state of emergency?
And finally …contrary to a cell-phone we don´t have to be afraid that our Bible would ever be disconnected from the mains… because Jesus has already settled (paid) the bill !!!

GOOD CHARLOTTE - The River

2008-06-27T06:12:00.000-07:00

(feat. M Shadows & Synyster Gates from Avenged Sevenfold)

[Joel]
As I walk through the valley
Of the shadow of LA
The footsteps that were next to me
Have gone their separate ways
I've seen enough now
To know that beautiful things
Don't always stay that way
I've done enough now
To know this beautiful place
Isn't everything they say

I heard that evil comes disguised
Like the city of angels
I'm walking towards the light

Baptized in the river
I've seen a vision of my life
And I wanna be delivered
In the city with the sinner
I've done a lot of things wrong
But I swear I'm a believer
Like the prodigal son
I was out on my own
Now I'm trying to find my way back home
Baptized in the river
I'm delivered
I'm delivered

[Avenged Sevenfold]
You're from a small town
You're gonna grow up fast
Underneath these lights
Down in Hollywood
On the boulevard
The dead come back to life

To the praying Mother
And the worried Father
Let your children go
If they come back
They'll come home stronger
And if they don't
You'll know

[Joel]
They think that evil comes disguised
Like the city of angels
I'm walking towards the light

Baptized in the river
I've seen a vision of my life
And I wanna be delivered
In the city with the sinner
I've done a lot of things wrong
But I swear I'm a believer
Like the prodigal son
I was out on my own
Now I'm trying to find my way back home
Baptized in the river
I'm delivered
I'm delivered

Baptized in the river (on my own)
Baptized in the river (on my own)
I wanna be delivered (on my own, on my own)

Baptized in the river (on my own)
I wanna be delivered
Baptized in the river (on my own)
I wanna be delivered
Baptized in the river (on my own)
I wanna be delivered

I confess I'm a sinner
I've seen a vision of my life
And I wanna be delivered

ITALICS - statements that are somehow connected with me personally, or which I like xD

A bit of meditation

2008-06-26T21:15:00.000-07:00

Co lidé potřebují?

Ke štěstí lidé potřebují bezpodmínečnou lásku a přijetí,
bezpečí, vědomí, že nejsou osamoceni, seberealizaci,
cíl a smysl života a naději na věčný život.
To vše jim nabízí Ježíš Kristus zadarmo.
Jenomže oni to nechtějí přijmout, protože se domnívají,
že potřebují úspěch, slávu, moc, peníze,
povzbuzující nebo utišující prostředky a věci, které jsou drahé.
A to je neštěstí.

in English:

What do people need?

To be happy, people need unconditional love, acceptance,
safety, awareness of not being alone, self-fulfillment,
goal and purpose of their life and a chance of eternal life.
That´s what Jesus Christ offers for free.
However, people don´t want to accept it, because they believe that
they need success, fame, power, money,
stimulants or alleviatives and expensive things.
And that is disaster.

Source: http://laskazvitezi.blog.cz/ (in Czech)

Support

2008-06-24T10:59:00.000-07:00

I´ve been thinking recently how important a support is in evolving the relationship with God. You must feel that you´re not alone. Of course, you´re not alone, because there´s God, though you need to be supported by someone - family, friends, parents - all these people should have accepted my decision to be a Christian. I´m so sorry they ignore it or don´t agree with it.
As Dave Patty said, relationship between me and my parents is after God the most important and lifelong relationship of my life. I want it to be alright and I´m trying. But I feel that they DON´T WANT to make it fine. He also said that we weren´t able to change our parents, so we must change ourselves. But it´s debatable for me. Of course I can try harder, I should obey them and respect them etc - but they must want to understand me too. I would like to change some of my negative characteristics and behave in that way God would be happy and proud of me. On the other hand, I´m telling myself that if I really changed, it wouldn´t be me. And I want to be myself (as it´s one of Hawk Nelson´s songs: I´m happy in my skin, bein´ myslef).
I am so sorry my parents don´t support me in the way I would wish. Anyway, there are many people ho do support me, help me and accept my decisions even if they aren´t Christians. For example my friend Eva, she´s so nice to me! And of course Cassie, Jess, Abby, Jenny, Stáňa, Klára, Meg!! I am so grateful they all are my friends!
I have no choice but to pray for the people who don´t believe in Him and who crizicize my faith. God is giving me strength.

ABOUT ME

2008-06-21T10:33:00.000-07:00

Where shall I start? My name is Pavla. My life has been... wild. That´s the right word. I was really bad, I behaved bad for about three years (when I was 14-16) and today, I am really sorry of it and also ashamed. Once, after a party night, I woke up. I saw my face - my deadly pale, tired and unknown face - in the mirror. In fact I got frightened of myself. I think it was that moment I told myself: Stop. And my life completely changed. Why did I do that bad things? I don´t know exactly... Maybe because of my family, I was full of anger, real anger which was like a disease. I needed God, I´ve found him, He came to me and helped me. He´s helping me constantly! I don´t know what I would do if I didn´t meet the people who helped me to find God. So, I´ve believed in God and my life changed, but I´m still finding someone who would help me with my "way to God", getting to know Him.